Johnson Health Tech to make Bally equipment for South Korea

Bally Total Fitness, which announced an agreement earlier this month for Bally-branded home equipment to be made by Life Fitness, has entered another agreement with Johnson Health Tech, the parent of Matrix, Vision and Horizon.

Bally Total Fitness, which announced an agreement earlier this month for Bally-branded home equipment to be made by Life Fitness, has entered another agreement with Johnson Health Tech.

Under the agreement, which SNEWS was told was finalized before the deal with Life Fitness, Johnson will manufacture home fitness equipment to be sold only in South Korea -- a growing market for Bally. The deal with Life Fitness calls for the equipment to be distributed worldwide except South Korea.

Johnson is the manufacturing parent of Matrix, Vision and Horizon, among others, and is the second-largest manufacturer worldwide of home fitness equipment. The Bally line for South Korea will include treadmills, elliptical trainers and recumbent bikes, the first of which will be available in June. AFIT Co. Ltd., a company formed to be the exclusive distributor of the Bally home equipment in South Korea, will market the equipment to consumers through such outlets as the Korean HSN Channel, selected health equipment stores, and department stores. Bally opened two clubs in that country last year, with three more slated for this year.

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"The health and fitness market in South Korea is booming as many consumers are now focusing on staying fit and improving their physical well-being," said John Wilson, head of franchising efforts for Bally Total Fitness. "With Korea suffering from such issues as elevated air pollution levels, hot weather and increased population density, the demand is high for finding fitness solutions within the home."

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